Electrode holder



NOV. 4, 1941. J HOENlE L 2,261,373

ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed July 11. 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENIOR5 77077 107: J. f/oarzze 40/ ATTORN Patented Nov. 4, 1941 ELECTRODE HOLDER Norman J. Hoenie and Frank Malner, Cleveland,

Ohio, assignors to The pany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 1 1, 1938, Serial No. 218,590

6 Claims. (Cl. 219-8) This invention relates, as indicated, to electrode holders.

It has as its principal object the provision of electrode holders which are of simple, rugged construction, consisting of a minimum number of easily manufactured and quickly assembled parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrode holder which can be readily and quickly connected to the source of current supply without the use of special tools, such as wrenches, screw drivers, etc.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrode holder which is of completely insulated construction, whereby the holder may be laid on a. metallic surface without danger of short-circuiting.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of electrode holder embodying the principal features of the invention;

Lincoln Electric Comproviding bearings for a shaft or pin 4. The forward portion of the web of the base member I is apertured as-at 5 to receive the tenon 6 of a stationary jaw I, the jaw being rigidly secured to said base member by riveting or peening the tenon to the lower surface of the base member. As seen in Fig. 3, the jaw 1 extends entirely across the space between the flanges2, and, as seen in Fig. 1, the flanges at this point are cut away to expose the jaw. The jaw 1 has formed in its upper surface a series of V-shaped grooves Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view of the holder;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal longitudinal cross-sectional view of the holder, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the holder, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the holder, taken on the line 5-5 of Fi 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, similar to Fig. 1, but showing the jaws of the holder partially open and grasping an electrode;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a modified form of holder;

Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view. taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. '1;

Fig. 9' is a transverse cross-sectional view. taken on the line 9-4 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a transverse cross-sectional view, taken on the line Ill-J0 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 11 is a transverse cross-sectional view. taken on the line ll-ll' of Fig. 7, but showing the jaws partially open and grasping an electrode.

Referring more particularly to that form of the inven ion shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the holder will be seen to comprise a base member I of generally channel-shaped cross-section, the flanges 2 of which are shaped to provide ears 3 or recesses B and a groove or recess 9 which extends diagonally across the jaw and intersects the grooves 8.

The pin 4 forms a fulcrum for a pivotally movable lever IO, which is bent or curved near its forward end as at H to conform with the peripheral surface of the pin. The lever ID has affixed to its rear end a tubular handle l2 formed of a suitable insulating material, suchas hard rubber or the like.

Frictionally secured to the rear portion of the base member I is a tubular handle [3, also formed of insulating material, such as Bakelite or the like, the holder being held and manipulated by means of such handle.

Secured to the web of the base member I, as by means of a bolt l4 and nut I5 is a flexible braided copper conductor l6; which is bent upwardly near its forward end, directly ahead of the curved portion ll of lever H), to provide a terminal portion H which is brazed to the lower surface of the forward portion of the lever. A movable jaw I8 is brazed to the lower surface of the terminal portion I! of the conductor, and the lower surface of this jaw is grooved similarly to the jaw 1.

The jaws 1 and I8 are normally maintained which is interposed between the conductor I 6 and the lever ID at a point rearwardly of the pin 4. The spring I9 is maintained against displacement by means of screws 20 and 2| which extend through the base member and lever respectively and into the ends of the spring.

The conductor 22, whereby the electrode holder is energized, extends through an opening 23 in the rear of the handle [3 and along the web of the base member I, being provided at its forward end with a loop 24, which encircles the shank of the bolt l4, and is maintained in contact with the conductor I6 by the nut [5. A lock-washer 25 is interposed between the head 26 of the bolt l4 and the base member I. The head 26, it may be noted, has an opening 21 therethrough which is just large enough for the insertion therethrough of a weldrod W (Fig. 5). Since the operator does not ordinarily carry a wrench or screw driver on his person, but does have a supply of weldrods, the provision of the opening 2'! permits him to insert a weldrod therethrough, as shown in Fig. 5, and to turn the bolt H, so as to permit attachment and detachment of the conductor 22 from the holder. Moreover, the parts are so designed that the weldrod will bend before the threads of the bolt M will be stripped, so that a gauge is thus provided for insuring that the connections are just tight enough. In order to insert a weldrod in the holder, the operator will depress the lever l sufliciently to open the jaws and then position the weldrod in the grooves 8 or 9, as may be desired, thereafter releasing the lever, so that the parts will assume the position shown in Fig. 6. The holder is thus seen to be of simple rugged construction, and to consist of a minimum number of easily manufactured and quickly-assemblable parts. The jaws are firmly secured to their respective backing members, and the flexible conductor i6 is secured in a highly desirable manner to the jaw l8 and lever Ill. The lever I0 is secured in pivotal relation to the base member in such a manner as to dispense with the provision of sleeves and bearings which would run up the cost of the holder, and at the same time, the lever can be removed by the simple xpedient of removing the spring 19, and then slipping the lever rearwardly below the pin A.

Referring now to the' modified form of holder shown in Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive, this holder is ,of the completely insulated type, that is to say,

it is so designed that it may be laid down, even when energized, on a metallic surface, without danger of short-circuiting, provided, of course, it is not laid down with a weldrod therein.

In this form of the holder, the base member I is also of generally channel-shaped form, and has frictionally secured thereto a tubular handle l3 of insulating material. The jaw 1', in this case, has inclined sides and is held in place by the flanges 2' of the base member, which are turned inwardly so as to form a dove-tail connection with the jaw. The jaw is insulated from said base member and flanges by means of insulation 30, formed of fiber board or the like. A bus-bar conductor 3| is interposed between the jaw 1' and insulation 30, and this bus bar extends rearwardly to a point just within the forward end of the handle l3, the intermediate portion of the bus bar being wrapped in insulating material 32, so as to insulate the same from the base member. The rear exposed portion of the bus bar and the bolt l4 and nut I 5' are insulated from the base member by means of a channel-shaped strip 33 of insulating material, such as fiber board or the like. The head 26' 01' the bolt I 4' is encased in a sleeve 34 of insulating material, this sleeve having apertures in its side, which are aligned with the opening 21',

so that a weldrod may be inserted to turn the bolt, as in the previously described form of holder.

The spring I9, is, in this case, maintained in position by means of a screw 2| and a pin 35 which extends from a bridgepiece 36, extending between and secured to the flanges 2 as by welding or the like.

The forward end of the lever I0 is, in this case, provided with inwardly turned flanges 31 which have a dove-tail connection with the upper jaw ll of the holder, the jaw being insulated from the lever by means of insulating material 38, such as fiber board, As seen in Fig. 11, it will be noted that the inner faces of the jaws 1' and 18' are so spaced from the flanges 2' and 31 that the weldrod W cannot touch such flanges.

The holder is further provided with a shield or guard 39, which is secured to the handle [3, as by rivets 4U.

It is thus seen that the holder is of such construction that the current-carrying parts are completely insulated from the exposed partsoi the holder, so that the holder may be laid down on any surface without fear of short-circuiting.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and dis tinctly claim as our invention:

1. In an electrode holder, a base member and a lever member angularly movable in relation to each other, and jaws carried by said members, said jaws being electrically insulated from said members.

2. In an electrode holder, members angularly movable in relation to each other, jaws secured to said members and insulated therefrom, and a current conductor secured to one of said members and insulated therefrom, said conductor having a portion interposed between the jaw carried by said member and the insulation therefor.

3. In an electrode holder, members angularly movable in relation to each other, jaws secured to said members and insulated therefrom, and a current conductor secured to one of said members and insulated therefrom, saidconductor being in electrical contact with said jaw carried by said member.

4. In an electrode holder, a channel formed base member and a lever member angularly movable in relation thereto, a jaw held in the channel at one end of said base member, and a jaw on said lever member adapted to engage said first-named jaw, said jaws being respectively electrically insulated from said members.

5. In an electrode holder, a channel formed base member and a lever member angularly movable in relation thereto, a jaw held in the channel at one end of said base member, a jaw on said lever member adapted to engage said first-named jaw, said jaws being respectively electrically insulated from said members, and a conductor disposed in the channel of said base member and electrically connected with the said jaw carried by said member, said conductor being electrically insulated from said member.

6. In an electrode holder, a channel formed base member and a lever member angularly movable in relation thereto, a jaw held in the channel at one end of 'said base member, a jaw on said lever member adapted to engage said firstnamed jaw, said jaws being respectively electrically insulated from said members, and a conductor disposed in the channel of said base member and electrically connected with the said jaw carried by said member, said conductor being electrically insulated from said member, and means for securing a second conductor to said first-named conductor, said means comprising a bolt and a nut threaded thereon, the head of said bolt having an opening therethrough of a diameter sufllcient to permit the insertion of an electrode, said head also having a covering of insulation.-

NORMAN J. HOENIE. FRANK MALNER. 

